Initial wrist-watch case



y 1941. B. LAZRUS 2,240,993

INITIAL WRIST-WATCH CASE Filed Aug. 4, 1939 INVENTOR BENJAMIN LAZRUS BY ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1941 OFFIQE INITEAL EVRIST-WATCH CASE Benjamin Lazrus, Lawrence, N. Y., assignor to Benrus Watch Company, New York, N. Y., a corpcration of New York Application August 4, 1939, Serial N 0. 288,283

lll Claims.

This invention relates to watchcases, and more particularly to wrist-watch cases arranged to receive interchangeable initials.

Wrist-watch cases provided with means on the front face outside the crystal, for receiving cutout initials, numeralsor other indicia, have proved to be popular because the watches are personalized with bold metal characters of seeming solidity and permanence, although in fact these characters are added by the watch dealer from a supply of characters at the time the Watch is sold. The primary object of my invention is to generaily improve wrist-Watch cases of this character. A more particular object is to provide openable means to enclose and frame the initials in such a manner as to give the Watch a smoothly finished appearance. Still another object is to devise mounting means particularly applicable to ladies wrist watches, which are small in dimension and which taper to small ears or bails at the ends. In accordance with a feature and object of the present invention, the initials are so disposed and mounted in position that they do not increase the apparent over-all size of the watch, the initials overlying the bails and carrying out the desired tapered configuration of the watchcase.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the watchcase and initial elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a ladys wrist-watch case embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of. the case drawn to enlarged scale with the cover for the initials shown in open position;

Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with the cover closed;

Fig. 5 is a section taken in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is explanatory of a detail; and

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of one of the initials.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the Wrist-Watch case comprises alower half l2 and an upper half or bezel M. The bezel is telescopically received over the upper edge or flange of the portion l2 in conventional fashion. The bezel M is provided with a main opening receiving a suitable crystal [6. Outside the crystal opening the case converges both in elevation and plan toward comparatively small end Walls which are provided with bails it for attachment of a suitable wrist strap or cord. The bails it are secured to the ends of bezel M and are free of. the lower part l2 of the case.

In accordance with the present invention, the case is provided with means generally designated 26 for detachably and interchangeably receiving initials, here exemplified by the initials W and N. The means iii are disposed on the downwardly sloping Walls 22 of the case, and at least partially overlie the bails It, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The initials therefore do not add to the over-all size of the wrist-watch case, and do not detract from the dainty tapered ap pearance of the same.

The means 2!"! for carrying the initial preferably comprises a suitable seat at the bottom and a suitable cover at the top for enclosing and framing the initial and for holding the same in position on the seat. The cover is openable relative to the seat so that the desired initial may be added according to the requirements of the purchaser. In the present case the cover is pivoted on the seat and opens by swinging outwardly, as is best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 3, a and 5, the seat is generally designated 24. It comprises a channellike bottom portion 26 (Fig. l) which is dimensioned to be received in an opening or slot 28 cut through the sloping wall 22 of the bezel, as is best shown in Fig. 6. The seat is turned outwardly at 30 and is again stepped at 32 to form side walls confining the initial against sideward movement. At the inner end the material of seat 2i is turned upwardly and shaped to form a detent 33 (Figs. 3 and 5). At the outer end the material of. the seat is extended and curled to form a hinge bearing 36.

The cover 38 is made of a single piece of sheet metal provided with an opening fill to expose the initial or letter. The material around the opening ll] acts to frame and set off the initial, particularly when, as is usually the case, the initial is made of metal of one color, say silver or chromium, while the case is made of a metal of another color, say yellow gold. The cover is drawn to provide a peripheral flange or side wall 42 extending around three sides of the cover. The side wall at the inner end is deformed slightly, as is indicated at 44, to provide means mating with detent 34 to hold the cover in closed position. At the outer end of the cover the material is curled around to form hinge bearings 46 (Fig. 3). These are closed at the outside by continuations of the side walls or flanges 52. A suitable hinge pin it (Fig. 5) passes through the hinge bearings 4t and is confined against axial movement by the side walls 42. The cover may be hinged to the seat either before or after the seat is soldered or brazed to the watchcase. In either case, the seat is prelerably secured not only to the sloping wall 22 of the bezel, but also the bail it, as is indicated at 58 in Fig. 5. The bail IS in turn is thereby strengthened, for it is secured at two points, first to the end Wall of. the bezel, as is indicated at 52 (Fig. 5) and second, to the seat 24.

The initials are preierabiy cut out of metal of substantial thickness, so that they have considerable depth and may even project through the opening in the frame or cover 33. In fact, the depth is preferably made greater than the thickness of the initials, thus giving the same an attractive, moderne, and ex ensive appearance. The initials may be provided with shallow retaining portions at the top and bottom, these portions being received in seat 24 and beneath cover thus preventing upward movement or escape of the initials. The construction of the initials will be evident from inspection of Fig. 7, in which the letter N is shown at 5 1, it being provided with retaining extensions These extensions help locate the letter properly, but that is not essential, because the letter is located by its accurate fit through the cover 33, the letters projecting above the cover, is indicated at at in 2 and l. The extensions serve the main 1* pose of holding the initials against upward movement, the extensions being confined beneath the frame 33. When seat 24 is soldered into the bezel it completely seals the opening 23, thereby maintaining the closed dust-proof character of the Watchcase for proper protection of the movement.

It is believed that the construction and method of use, as well as the many advantages of my improved wrist-watch will apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The jeweler selling this type of watch is provided with a supply of initials in order to meet the requirements of different purchasers. When a Watch is purchased, the jeweler simply opens the covers 38 and inserts the appropriate initials, whereupon the covers are snapped closed. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims. In the claims, the expression wrist strap is intended to include a band, or chain, or cord, etc. he term initial is intended to include numerals or other indicia, such as fraternal emblems, as well as letters.

I claim:

1. A Wrist-watch case comprising bezel, a seat forming a permanent of the bezel adapted to receive separable interchangeable initials, and a frame-like cover dimensioned to fit over litial and to remain closed with the initial expose but held therebeneath, said cover having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seat and the initials.

2. A Wrist-watch case comprising a bottom part and a bezel, said bezel havin a crystal holding section, short bails at the ends of said bezel for attachment of a wrist strap, seats on the bezel overlying and at least partially concealing said bails, said seats being adapted to receive separable interchangeable inltials, and a frame-like cover dimensioned to fit over an initial and to remain closed with the initial held therebeneath.

3. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom part and a bezel, said bezel having a crystal holding section, short bails at the ends of said bezel for attachment of a wrist strap, seats on the bezel overlying and at least partially concealing said bails, said seats being adapted to receive interchangeable initials of substantial thickness, said initials having comparatively thin extensions, and a pivoted frame-like cover dimensioned to fit over an initial and seat and to remain closed with a snap engagement, the letter portion of said initials projecting through said cover, the extensions coming beneath said cover and being held thereby.

e. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a watch movement, a top half fitting over the bottom half, means at the ends of the top half for receiving a wrist strap, said top half having an opening to receive a crystal, interchangeable initials having deep letter portions and thin retaining portions, and an openable frame-like cover on the bezel outside the crystal and arranged to be closed with a snap engagement, said cover having an openin dimensioned to expose the deep letter portions and to engage and retain the extensions of the initials, and said cover having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seat and the initials.

5. A Wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a watch movement, a top half fitting over the bottom half, means at the ends of the top half for receiving a wrist strap, said top half having an opening to receive a crystal and having one or more seats outside the crystal for receiving initials, initials disposed in said seats from above, and an openable frame-like cover on each seat and arranged to be closed over the seat with a snap engagement, said cover having an opening dimensioned to expose yet engage and retain the initials, and said cover having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seat and the initials.

6. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom hall shaped and dimensioned to receive a watch movement, a top half fitting over the bottom half, means at the ends of the top half for receiving a wrist strap, said top half having an opening to receive a crystal and having one or more seats outside the crystal for receiving initials, initials disposed in said seats from above, said initials having deep letter portions and thin retaining portions, and an openable frame-like cover pivoted on each seat and arranged to be closed over the seat with a snap engagement, said cover having an opening dimensioned to expose the deep letter portions and to engage and retain the extensions, and said cover having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seat and the initials.

7. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a Wrist-watch movement, a bezel dimensioned to fit telescopically over the bottom half and provided with a crystal opening, a portion of said bezel outside said crystal opening being incised or cut away and having soldered therein a. seat for an initial, an initial interchangeably disposed on said seat, a frame-like openable cover on said seat, said cover having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seat and, initial.

8. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a wrist-watch movement, a bezel dimensioned to fit telescopically over the bottom half and provided with a crystal opening, the portions of said bezel outside said crystal opening being incised or cut away and having soldered therein portions of seats for initials, initials interchangeably disposed on said seats, a frame-like cover on each seat adapted to be closed with a snap engagement, and bails the ends of said bezel, said bails being secured to the bezel and to the ends of the seats, said covers having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seats and initials, whereby the initials are exposed at the top only.

9. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a wrist-watch movement, a bezel dimensioned to fit telescopically over the bottom half and provided with a crystal opening, the portions of said bezel outside said crystal opening being incised or cut away and having soldered therein portions of seats for initials, initials interchangeably disposed on said seats, said initials being of substantial depth and being cut out of metal and having retaining extensions at the ends thereof, a framelike cover on each seat adapted to be closed with a snap engagement and to fit over the letter portion of the initials while engaging the retaining extensions, said covers having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seats and initials, whereby only the letter portion of the initials is exposed.

10. A wrist-watch case comprising a bottom half shaped and dimensioned to receive a wristwatch movement, a bezel dimensioned to fit telescopically over the bottom half and provided with a crystal opening, the portions of said bezel outside said crystal opening being incised or cut away and having soldered therein portions of seats for initials, initials interchangeably disposed on said seats, said initials being of substantial depth and being cut out of metal and having retaining extensions at the ends thereof, a pivoted frame-like cover on each seat adapted to be closed with a snap engagement and to fit over the letter portion of the initials while engaging the retaining extensions, bails at the ends of said bezel, said bails being secured to the bezel and to the ends of the seats, said covers having side flanges formed integrally therewith and dimensioned to encompass the seats and initials, whereby only the letter portion of the initials is exposed.

BENJAMIN LAZRUS. 

